Mechanism for filling cartons



Jan. 19, 1954 A, A BARNES ETAL 2,666,565

MECHNISM FOR FILLING CARTONS l'll A. A, BARNES ETAL MECHANISM FOR FILLING cARToNs Jan. 19, 1954 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1948 INVENTORS. 67. H/QNES 19, 1954 A. A. BARNES ETAL 2,666,565

MECHANISM FOR FILLING CARTONS Filed Jun s, 194e Y 1s sheets-sheet s INVENTORS. ALF/PED A. 50k/VES @055er SPL/A71? M la /777'0 NEYS P Ian 19, 1954 A. A. BARNES ETAL 2,666,565

MECHANISM FOR FILLING CARToNs Filed June 3, 1948 1s sheets-sheet 4 IDI v /J Q loo /56 Q y @WAH BY mwa HTOENEYS' Jan. 19, 1954 A. A. BARNES ETAL 2,666,565

MECHANISM FOR FILLING cARToNs Filed June s, 1948 1s sheets-sheet 5 Fig-.6

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' MECHANISM FOR FILLINGCARTONS Filed June 3, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet '7 f INVENTORS F G. 9 n mmf/J n. aRNEs Ja@- 19, 1954 A. A. BARNES ErAL 2,666,565

MECHANISM FOR FILLING cARToNs Filed June 3, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 IIO l I, '/W- llo ll'l- Flam/o /32 HTTOZNEYS' Jan. 19,1954 l A. A. BARNES ETAL 2,666,565

MECHANISM FOR FILLING cARToNs Filed June 3, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS. LFRED JBCINES Jan. 19, 1954 A. A. BARNES I-:TAL 2,666,565

MECHANISM FOR FILLINGl CARTONS Filed June 3, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet lO Jan. 19, 1954 A, A BARNES ETAL 2,656,565

MECHANIAYSM FOR FILLING CARTONS 'Filed June 3" 1948 13 sheets-sheet 11 s Y ,1.51 2ggs r 2,70 2,07

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MECHANISM FOR FILLING cARToNs Filed June 3, v1948 13 sheets-sheet 15 ROBERT SPa/Z1?.A

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Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM Fon FILLING cAR'roNs Alfred A. Barnes and Robert Spurr, Syracuse. N. Y., assignors to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,774

36 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for filling open-ended cartons with liquid materials. More particularly, it has to do with a filling apparatus for lling paperboard cartons of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,470,984, issued May 24, 1949, to Horning et al.,.with liquid material, such as milk.

It is Well known in dairy practice that milk has a decided tendency to foam or froth when agitated, particularly when poured from one container into another. This foaming action is particularly troublesome in the filling of containers, such as bottles, cartons, etc., which are used to package the milk for delivery to customers. These containers are constructed to contain a predetermined quantity of milk, such as a pint, quart, etc. In dispensing thev liquid milk into the containers, the agitation of the milk, incident to it being dispensed in the container, creates an appreciable amount of foam. Inasmuch as it is not practical to make. the container appreciably larger than necessary to contain the desired quantity of milk, the foam on the top of the milk causes diiculty in applying the top closure to the container. This foaming is caused partly by the strong lm strength of the milk and the presence of air in the liquid which, to a great extent, is taken in through joints and couplings in the apparatus in the dairy. A joint Vor coupling may not be loose enough to leak'milk but will, nevertheless, admit air into the operating circuit.

At the present time, a large portion of liquid milk processed for consumption is homogenized and this process increases the film strength of the milk and accordingly, increases the foaming action during the filling of the containers. It is also desirable to bottle milk at a relatively low temperature, the present practice being in the neighborhood of 40 F., and a desirable practice would be between 33 and 35. However, the lower the temperature of the milk, the greater the tendency of the milk to foam.

Attempts have been made'to solve this problem by providing the filling apparatus Withfa vacuum arrangement to evacuate or removethe foam from the top of the container. The vfoam thus removed from the container is transferred back to the liquid supply reservoir and, in some instances, mechanism is provided in the reservoir to mechanically break up the foam. *y In some `instances, steam is blown intojthe top of the filled container in order to breakup `and. dispensethe foam. With certain types ofcontainers, including some types ofI paperboard milk cartons, this method-'is' not expedient and in some cases the 2 difficulty of solving the foaming problem has bee so great that no attempt is made to control foaming of the milk, it being permitted to foam and run over, or out of the top of the container, and after the container has been closed, it is 'rinsed oli to dispose of the milk accumulated on the outside thereof.

With this situation in view, this invention has as an object a carton filling apparatus embodying a novel structure with which cartons may be rapidly filled with milk at low temperature without appreciable foaming or frothing of the liquid.

The invention has as a further object a filling apparatus of the type referred to embodying a structure by which all of the operating elements which are contacted by the milk can be quickly and conveniently dis-assembled for proper cleaning and Without the use of special tools.

The invention has as a further object a liquid dispensing apparatus which may be quickly and conveniently adjusted to dispense, with great accuracy, different quantities of liquid and which, after dispensing a quantity of liquid, will not drip or leak.

The invention has as a further object a lling apparatus operable to automatically fill cartons being rapidly advanced in a procession, the structure including a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, each operable independently of the other,v

for dispensing a relative large quantity of liquid in a relatively short length of time.

The invention has as a further object a filling Vapparatus of the type described embodying a structure operable to effectively dispense and fill containers with all kinds of milk products ranging from heavy cream to grade B milk, and to dispense accurate quantities of all such products without any change or adjustment in the iillin apparatus.

The invention contemplates lling cartons of different sizes and capacities advanced in a. procession, and the mechanism of the apparatus embodies a structure which is operable to automatically vary the quantities of liquid dispensed upon variation in the size of the cartons being advanced to the apparatus.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. y

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a filling apparatus embodying our invention, with parts k,iur lof the container dete'eters.;A 1

' t-Figure 2211s a/.viewoffthe structureshovvn in `lfigure 20 shqwing'the" drive for the container "detecting l'm'echanisrnjin side elevation," the' outer Awall'ofthev guide? rail supporting structure beiner vcut away.

of one of the dispensing unitsm'lof 'the"""aparatus with the dispensing valve shown in closed position. .m Larga... :p t. n Figure 5 is a view similar to Figurefl, with the dispensing valve shown in theppepgsitionnh Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the actuating mechanism for the dispensing units..

shown in section taken on a line corresponding Eigultglzwtlu, ;z..` i a si .eel Vati Figure umnlsuppertingthe; .dispensing units.

.. Figurel; is,` a. viewtakenon line l 8-...3 .Figure .6.

:..saFigure *.9 is .-a; vertical; sectional. view. ofthe, collumnfand 'actuating mechanismv therein, taken on line 3 9, Figure 2. y l ..Fig.ure.1\0 lis afview.v taken. on 'a line correspondig-'tollinel-igFigureiQ;

Figurell'is a: view :taken on. a. line correspondl 30 Figure 13 .isa-fragmentary sectional view taken is aview taken ori une la-mfrugisa view taken online IFJ-l5, Fig- 6r theh''usiiig 'and motion" transmittingv mechamounted therein for operating the 'carton Ade 'cti-ng rneclianism.A

thelaibng th guide' r'a'ii'iri proximityto one Figure" 23 is'a view-similar to Figure 22fbut taken if b'rximity .to the tarwe dettor. ,Hiem- 'b'er 'shot/inem@ ,actuating mechanism fer this member in sidef elevation' the viewl in 'location corres A `l"Figure 24'ls a view` taken ure 25 isa' view taken"o'n1ine25 ;25; Fg

ure 21.

Figure gs is a. fragmentary sectional view/'taken 'orijline 2li-25;A Figure 8.

Figure, 27 uasid levatura view *ofthe mai- `Atial foradjusting the apparatus to vary 'the quan- Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical.sectionalyiew Figure 33 is a perspective View of the lower portion of one of the dispensing units showing the flow of liquid being dispensed therefrom.

-- Figure-34 is--a sectional View taken on line i Fig 15 w i ttbm plan view of the sleeve o .the `d ispensirlg member.

Figure Y36 is a sectional view taken on line 36-36,'Figure 35.

.Figurenrl is a developed view of the lower end of the sleeve, as shown in Figure 35. l I Ifhve liquid dispensing l apparatus herein disclosed forms" 'art of@ machine for automatically "malrilng, filling;and'"ealirigy cartons of the type frerredfto'aid particularly the mechanismhre1n' clsc'ri forms part of the niaehire hldiscfl'csediunft'lle copending application of vviicox' et" all, 'srnjzegeir sied May e', i948, in Y,whichal numberr of.the structural features of Vthis inventio'aref dsclSedfahdof which this applicationfisacontinuation inlp'artf.. fijne suing apparatsruhctios to' utmaticalnto andrv till cartons .C'inter- @.111 uroessoi under the disrsnsigggee@memset theeprarws. d.The apparatus Masa. wholeponsistsof a base .29. @il .whihlthsre is mounidl a fhfgusins" 2z, in which-is journalled aV lmain :Marn shaft 42 4 extend- .eg.1e.r1g,thwise9f the. heu'ising., vThe cartons C yet@Y,gter,leedf.ir-lla ,procession along guide. rails t?.eteudne'lengthwse of .the housing. alongfop.- @site Sides thereoi @nain proximity to the top of ,the hQusing. Thev cartons are advanced by @limiet-1.11@ mellallism ycomprising rods 33 on which therearemountedja series of; spaced apart earton engaging ,members, l,each ofY these members beingformedlyvitninwardmextending arms ,34..35= and.35, thef.arms;'of each' member being rspaced apart.vertieally;.-see Figure 3. Mechanism 1s;:.provided.. for. effectingAV a rectang'ular lmovement .of. thecarton.` advancing means whereby the carton.. engaging.; members are moved inwardlyover-.the guide rails-32 between the carsuch. fior; 'exam-ple,v one.: quart. capacity. The

lrails Y.32! :areaadjustedl upwardly; to diie'rent selected` Fpositions to accommodate .shorter cartons v(2f-lesscapacity. as pint, half-pint.. etc.

. ...-e1li1riifillbb. @misma thev filling apparatus f proce l any Suitable Carton conveyor or advancing structure or arrangement may be employed for intermittently advancing the procession of cartons.

The dispensing apparatus per se is supported upon a boxlike column 42 mounted upon the housing 22, as by screws 43. the column being arranged centrally of the housing 22 and positioned between the guide rails 32. The frame-l work of the dispensing apparatus further Aincludes a top plate 44 mounted on the top wall 45 of the column 42. This plate is coextensive in length with the column 42 but extends laterally a considerable distance beyond the sides of the column in overhanging relation with respect to the guide rails 32.l The laterally extending portions of the plate 44 are formed with a series of recesses 46 extending inwardly from the side edges of the plate. Y

The central part of the top plate 44 is'of appreciably greater thickness than the laterally extending portions, forming `a rectangular pad 41, on each side of which is detachably mounted a liquid supply manifold V48. These manifolds extend lengthwise of the top plate and are formed on their outer sides with four discharge openings 49.

The filling apparatus includes four liquid dispensing units mounted in juxtaposition to, and connected with, each manifold 48. These manifolds are provided at their centers With a coupling 58 for detachably connecting the manifolds to stand pipes I, the upper ends of which are connected to a tank or reservoir 52 by upper couplings 53.

Each of the dispensing units consists of a body 54 formed on opposite sides adjacent their lower ends with recesses 55 to slidably receive the contiguous portions of the top plate 44, the bodies 54 sliding into the recesses 46 formed in the plate. Each of the bodies 54 is formed with a measuring cylinder 56 in which there is mounted for reciprocation an adjustable volume dispensing piston 51. The inner sides of the bodies 5 4 are moved into engagement with the manifolds 38, and the bodies are formed intermediate the manifolds and the cylinder 56 with vertically extending bores or passages 58 in which th'e dispensing members are mounted for vertical reciprocaticn. The body members 54 are formed on their inner sides withinlet ports 59 arranged in register with the outlet ports 49 formedinthe manifolds 48. The abutting marginal surfaces around the ports 49, 59, are made, or formed, in the nature of a ground joint, and the bodies are detachably clamped against the manifolds, and the manifolds clamped against the sides of the pad portion 41 by yoke clamps 68, U-shaped in general form, and provided at their ends with apertures to receive pins 6| mounted adjacent the edges of the overhanging portion of the top plate 44. The yokes 68 are formed at their centers Vwith threaded apertures to receive screws 62, the inner ends of which engage a cross member 63 spanning two contiguous dispensing units. The screws 62V are provided with hand wheels 64. It will be apparent that when the screws 62 are tightened, the bodies of the dispensing units are firmly pressed against the manifolds which are backed up by the pad portion 41, see Figures 2 and 3.

The liquid dispensing member of each unit is in the form ofa tube arranged in the vertical passage intermediate the cylinder andmanifold, and is formed at its lower end with a plurality of rcumferentially spacedapart ,outlet slotsdisposed` horizontally and which function to discharge sheets or curtains of liquid. The cartons C are square in cross section, and the dispensing member is arranged to discharge a curtain of liquid against the inner surface of each side of thecarton adjacent the top edge thereof, whereby the cartons are filled by these curtains or sheets of liquid passing downwardly over the inner surface of the sides of the cartons, as distinguished from pouring or discharging the liquid in the form of a stream into the center of the carton from a conventional nozzle or outlet. This arrangement, plus the fact that these curtains ofzdispensed liquid are separated at the corner portions of the cartons, results in the liquid being `dispensed into the cartons with no appreciable foaming. The interruption in the curtains of liquidv at the corner portions of the carton providev ample area,.or areas, for the escape. of` air from within the carton during the filling operation.4

As disclosed herein. the dispensing member is made 'up of a sleeve61 in whichis mounted a stem 68, the lower portion 69 of which is of reduced diameter and terminates in an enlarged portion 18 overlying the lower end of the sleeve The portion 69 is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending ribs1l, the upper portionof the stem 68 andl the ribs 1I slidably engaging the inner surface ofthe sleeve B1, Figures 4, 5 and 32. The stem 68 is formed with an upper portion 12. projecting beyond the upper end of the sleeve andbeing threaded as at 13 to receive a nut 14 engaging the upper end of thesleeve and serving to vdetachably secure the stem within the sleeve. The lower end of the sleeve is of conical formation and provided with projections 15, Figures 35;v 36 and 37. The confronting surface of the enlarged portion 16 of the stem is of complemental conical formation 16 which abuts against the projections 15 forming four horizontally disposed discharge slots 11. Figures 32,33. Also the confronting surface of one of these members, such as the sleeve 61,1is formed with a plurality of recesses Vor notches k18 forming enlargements at spaced intervals vin the discharge slots 11 and effecting a plurality of ribs 88 in the curtains 8| of the discharged uid.

The sleeve 61 also serves as a valve member for connecting the measuring cylinders 56 to the manifolds 48 during the charging of the cylindeigandduring the discharge of the cylinder, the sleeves 61 are shifted to permit the liquid to ow downwardly through the sleeve. This valve action is accomplished 'by the sleeves 61 being mounted'in the passages 58 of the body for reciprocation therein. As here shown, the sleeves are not mounted directly in the passages 58 of the body 54 but, in order to simplify the construction of the dispensing unit, the sleeves 61 are mounted in an outer sleeve 84 formed at its lower end with a shoulder engaging the lower end of the body with the upper end of the sleeve extending through the body and being threaded to receive a nut 86 by means of which 'the outer sleeveis detachably secured in the body. This outer sleeve is formed with an inlet port- 81 arranged in registration with the inlet port 59 in the body and, on its opposite side, it is formed with a port 88 communicating with a horizontally extending passage 89 communieating with a passage 90 formed inthe. bottom wall of the cylinder 56. 1

.The sleeve 61 is -formed with a circumferential groove-g1 and with a port, .92., .Whenthe .sleeve "and'ffl'll "Thisfarrangementwillibealso'fapparent fromfaperusal'fof* the-top 'plan'- view inl Figure 2.

The rods l-areforr'ned"With'notoheswto receive-llathfmembers|20; better villustrated in Figurel. The-under sideA ofY the plate II-I is formedlwithfslots '.|2| fextending lengthwise of L'the*folate* Eaeh slot extends 'nregister with a pair'of `the rods I08.- The latchv members-|20 are mounted in'fth'eseslots and.; retained. therein by-plate's i|'2'21sem1redlto the under .side of: the plate |-"|"f|.' Eachfofthe latohI members |20 is bi'furoatedL onY- oney end', andhas a roller m3. arran'gedfinithe encliportiono'f1 the bifurcation, see Figures Allan'd' 13. 'Thelatch-membersare recessedftofslidably receive a poppet I-2I|,.the outer endffwlii'ch s ofreduced4 dimensionA and is posiably mounted in the plate l|-'-I and interposed betweenth'e roller-.|23 and theipoppetl |24, see

` Figureifl. The sidefofthe-pinl26jconfronting the roller; is'formed with'a attened surface |20 mergin'gintoan inclined' cam surface l |29; When the pin |2J is pushed upwardly in `theplate I I, the roller"|2 3, following. the inclined ksurface |29, permits the'latch member |20 to moveto the right, Figure 13, into the recess formed in the rod |08', Vthismovementv being effected by a helical compression. springfiii interposedbetween the latch 'member and the' poppet. 'When the latch is' in .this positiomtherodsj |08 are connected to the 'plate 'and' move upand down with it. When the pins |20 aremoved. downwardlmthe latchesil' are cammed out of engagement-With .the rods iandaceordingly, when the plates i i moye downwardly, the` rods.. 08. will. not doY so.

.Theintermediate portions-ofthe rods Hi8. are machined tofprovlde axially extending oiiset portions, i 3| |32,l connected. by van inclined portion |33. .Theseportonsof-the rods |03 are employed lto eleet movement. of a-latch. member |3Liinto andout offlatching engagement with rods |35 Whiehvactuate the dispensing members Si, 68. In thisV case., Slots .l 36N are :machined .-in-r the topsurfaeeottheupper plates Hl, the latches i'being slidably arrangedzin these slots. A major portion of' theselatc'hes is bifureated` tostraddle the intermediate portions |131, |32 and.: |33 Yof the rods-|08, 'andthe rodsare engagedon opposite sides :by rollers |38 f mounted .in the .bifureated portion ofthe latch-,ir and the confronting lsides ottherod'szm are formedvwith notches. I 39. The latohesia-re retained in the slots;v |36 as by plates |146-,iseerFiguresQ. andfIO. With this arrangement the redsl |1381 move downwardly with respect to"thei.pla'te.fIIsl, .thel'atehes ist are moved.` `into .latching engagement. withv the rods |'35:by:the:inclined:surfaces` |33 and likewise, `when the rodsfiil are movedupwardly vwith respect. to .theiplate H1, the-latches'` |3f| are Withdrawnlfrom the'rodsI |55. "The 'rods |35 are provided? at their-upper ends 'with oapsvir l |r pivotally connected to the innerends of the roelierv arms `lliivvhch are. journalledf intermediate their ends onpins. |7431carriedlvbythelbrackets-|04, the outer endsofthearmswl' being connected to the uppery portion 2fo:fltl`ie4 stein 08; 'The rods |35 are mountedfoiwvertieall sliding Emovement in bushings VIlli arrang'edvinrv the topplate 44', the rods extending downward-ly through the plate Nfl and being slidably-mounted in guide bushings :arranged-in .the rweb'- lllpseec Figure' 9. The rods o1. provided with `ixed. collars ME4 arranged-Io i. the i under side of "the plate I l 1 and bemg--..eitectivef Lto:ubelengaged by. the Yplate'- and Vthe machine are rendered inoperable.

P9 move the rods downwardly. The .rods are moved upwardly yby the 1atchmembers |34." d

From the description thus far; it willbe apparent that the actuating rods |08, |35, are not fixedly connected to the plates I H, |1. The reason yfor the latches |20, |34,`is to provide means for disconnecting the rods |08, |35, from the'actuating plates in the event it is desired to render one or more of the dispensing units inoperable as, for example, when a carton isabsent in the procession of cartons being advanced beneath the dispensing units or,` when the cartons being lled are of less capacity than theV maximum size cartons which can be filled by the apparatus. For example, when quartcarto'ns are being filled, all four of the dispensing units on eachiside of the machine are in operation. When pint cartons are being filled, two of the units on each side of For example, the two units to the left in Figure 1. When half pint cartonsare being lled, the third unit on each side'of the` machine is also rendered inoperable, the cartons being filled by one unit. That is, the units are'ea'ch capable of delivering a yuniform quantity, such .as a half-pint of liquid. It will be understood, of course, that the mechanism for advancing the cartons is operated in timed relation Ato the rotation of the f cam shaft 24, and that the dispensing units are operated to dispense liquids during the dwell period of the carton advancing means.

' In Figure 9, the plate is shown at the top of its upward movementgand the plate |1 at the bottom of its downward movement. With the plates in these positions, the dispensing units are arranged as shown in Figure 4. That is, the pistons 51 are positioned in thebottom of the cylinders, and the dispensing valve=members are in the up position with the discharge slots closed. The plate is moved downwardly by the cams 544 and 546, and' with thelatch members |20 engaging the, rods |08, the rods are moved downwardly oscillating the rockerv arms in a clockwise direction, Figure 4, moving the pistons upwardly. This downward movement of the rods |88 cammed the latch'members |34 into engagement with the push rods |35. .When the pistons reach the top of their stroke` and have charged the cylinders 56Awith liquid, the plate |1 moves rapidly upwardly and because, the rods|35 are latched thereto, they likewise move upwardly,

.effecting oscillation of therocker arms |42 in a counter-clockwise direction, moving the dispensing members l61, 68, downwardly to the position shown in Figure 5. -.The plate ||1is moved up and down in timed rrelation to the movement of the plate by rods |41 fixedly secured at their upper ends to the plate. The rods v| 41 have yokes at their lower endsV provided with rollers |48arranged in grooves |48 of cams l543-541. The plate then moves upwardly, effecting upward movement of the rodsl |08 and downward movement of the .pistons 51, whereby the liquid is discharged from the slots 11. During the upward movement of the plate |1, the rollers |38 Vtravel on the upper straight portion 32of the rods |08. When the rods |08 were moved upwardly to effect discharge of the cylinders, the latches |34 were withdrawn vfrom latching engagement with the rods |35. yTJponthe vcomplete vdischarge of the liquid from theylinders, the plate ||1 is moved downwardly and throughthe fixed collars |46, the rods |35 are -moveddownwardly, moving the dispensing member into closed position. This is the normal 'running operation of theapparatus. l

In the event afcarton is missing inthe procession, means is provided for moving thel pins |26 downwardly in the plate to draw the latch members |20 out of engagement with the rods |08. This mechanism consists of a series of arms |50, |5|, |52, |53, periodically urged ina counter-clockwise directionV about' their pivots |54 to move the ends of theV arms intoengagement with the cartons C positioned on the'gliide rails 32. These arms are connected to arms |55, |56, |51, |58, respectively, movable intoA notches formed in enlarged portions |59, |60, |6|, formed on shafts |62, |63, |64, |65, journalled vertically exteriorly of the side walls of the column 42. Each of these shafts is provided at its lower end with an arm |66 extending inwardly of the coltending along each side of thecolummand there are a plurality of the col1ars.|68.. lAspreviously stated, there'are four dispensing units andaccordingly, four lling stations on each guide rail 32, and there are a series of arms |50|53I arranged in juxtaposition'to eachguide rail, vand there are a series of shafts |62--I65 along each side of the column.

The rods |69 are reciprocated by a yoke member |10 arranged centrally in thecolumn and attached to a slide |1| mounted in the top wall of the cam housing 22 and having depending on its under side, a roller |12 positioned in a cam slot |13 in the cam545 Vmounted upon the shaft 24. Each rod |68 has iixedly secured to it a collar |14 arranged to engage each of the collars |68, and there'is a helical compression spring |15 interposed between each of the sliding collars |68 and the fixed collars |14. With this arrangement, theshafts |62|65 are positivelyoscillated in one direction by the cam 5,45, and yieldingly urged in the opposite direction by the springs |15. Y

There are a series of shafts |16, 11, |18, |19, journalled vertically inside of the column 42, and the lower ends of these shafts are provided with outwardly extending arms arranged in ytransversely extending slots on the under sides of the slidable collars |68. These shafts |16- |19 are paired withthe shafts IGZ-|65 respectively whereby, the shafts |16|19 are oscillated yin llike fashion by the cam 545. The shafts |16- ,-by the second pair of arms from ther left-in Figure 11-out of interference with the pins |26. The yoke |10 is actuated by the cam A545 in timed relation to the movement of the arms |50|53 toward the cartons, this movement being under spring tension. vIf a carton is present to be engaged by the .endsv of thearms |50-|53, the arms will onlyl have a limitedy movement toward therails 32 and accordingly, there will-only be a limited movement of the ends of thearms 55 |58'away from the enlargements on theshafts |62-|65. At this time, the shafts |62'-|65 positioned in the upper portion of` Figures 11Y and A 12 have been` oscillated in aHcounterclockwise `.direotl,onabyrmemoiresI I Iiiin` the, lovvenportionA .have been .oscillated L iniaclockwse direction- .by fthe yoke to move thenotchesA in. the-'enlargedpor- ;;tions|59|6| in.fregister/:with@the ends of'the arms ISE-|58, fand thismovement effects :oscil- -lation of ythe --shaftsfIf'I-G-'LI'IS .'fto'gposition the arms-,18| :out -of interference with thevpins 126, p asshown in'v Figure 11. -With a ycarton present,

the, endof thearms -I5If= |153- Will engage the car- J ,;t o n:fand vthus befprevented-1from moving about .their pivots I "ill` .and v.the'aends :of .the arms I5 5 15T-.Will not moveoutA ofthegnotches inthe ,enlargements Iof:A the shafts-JI 62-1 65,1and15.accord -1ing1y,n these shafts-"cam not be'woscillated in .the

opposite direction -byY ther-springs |15 whenthe yokereturns and, 'by the-:same token, .the 'shafts p IIB-|19 will-not. be;v oscillated in :the opposite cdirection, aand-v `the arms v:I8 I "willi-.notbe moved overland :in interference :With`the'pins 12% on '.zthe. upward .movement of theplate |111. i Howiever, f vif` there is a :cartonmissingy 'in the procession, the Larrns'v 15G-2| 58 l'vuill'rnove towardfthe -.rails'32"far enougnto'fmovezithe ends ofthe'corresponding armsV VIr55i--il58wouta of'fengagement fwith fthe' `notches in V:therienl'argements I 59-l-I 6 I vand the return movement of fthe-yoke Will'permit the spring |15 to move.theflcorresponding @collar |68 rearwardly land to effect :oscillation 'of the corresponding shaftiI-li'stozswingits' rfarm "|81 a over IVin interference vwith the corresponding pin'l26. lWhenbths happens upon upwardlmovement--of the=1plate=|||, the pin |26 leftshown in Figure 11,1 are `in registration with 1 I the shafts-|162, thethird--foartons vin registration ever that the carton detector arms I-It exltend rearwardly and accordingly engagegcartons yone station-ahead ofthe fil-ling stations. VWith the dispensing` apparatus inthe position shown in VFigure '4, a carton has' been lle'd4 and the dis- Y Ypensing member-'61, 68,movedto closed position.

' As previously-stated, the `plates i1, are positioned as'shown -in Figure'Q.

If the carton detecting `Imechan-ism has detected 1 the presence -of a cartonfatthe preceding station, Vthe member ISI Awould notr be "pushed -'over y the -pin I 26 andaccordingly,A when the cartons haVebeen-advanced one Vstep forwardly vl`oy fthe carton advancing'mechanism and the plates |I'I, actuatedby they cams 543, 54455465541,

thepush rods IBB and`-|35world'bereciprccated to "ll-the carton now 'positioned under the dis- -pensing mechanism. Y-"However,r if during" the 'filling of va carton-"the 'detecting fnleohanisrndoes --not detect a'cartonfat-the preceding-station, the

arm |8I is swung inwardly-over the vpin |26 and accordingly, vwhen lthe "plate II Iv is :moved upwardly tothe position shown 'in Figure y9, "the .i I corresponding vpin |26 will' be pushed downwardly -unlatching the `correspondingA push1 rod I Bt Vvfrom the -cam-s'ha'ft'24,"the plate vIII-"will 'be moved --up and down; "but the f push rods |98 Ywill not i "be `reoiprocatecl andfinasmuch as' the Apush rods -I |18 "areleitinV the upiposition; theyfhave cammed the latches |34 out of engagement with thepush `rods '|35 -so that they Iare not reciprocated by the'fplate IH. Therefore-ifa cartonis absentinlplate 44. movementin .the;u1t1t1er'plate III by collars 2&4 vclamped to thestem:and'fabutting against the :upperi and zu'nderf sides' ofithe zplate, see Figures 2595. -the end ofthetstemfand 'isbiurCated'as at 2M,

rails 32, thelliquididispensingiunits vrilltnotffuncn tion, :1f but ."Nvill remainfincther position. lshown in Figure 4.

whenr any of, the -pins I2 6i have "been pushed .doum'in theplateIIiI 'because "of the absence ofi a carton :in 'the' procession, "as just Iexplained,

^' they. are reset. or,.pushed I upwardly, iupon lricove- `ment of therplatei'III toith'efbottorn of itsvstroke.

`Thisis"'accomplished"bytapad'hlt 'fixed to a vste1'n`2i I.l arranged: vertically in vthe housing t2. This `'stem .has clearanoeithrough .the web Ht andthe `lowerplateal I I. 'The 'lowerend of the stem isA slidablyfmountedzin thetop wall ofthe cam housing22yfanditheupper end of the'stem is slidablyfrnountedjni ai.' sleeve 293 extending upwardlyrromithe centralportionft'l of the tog:- The .stems are Jretained from axial 9,14` and il5. fTheupperiend vofthe stem 2il| hasafxed theretorzarmember 2'05,"as by a pin The "fmembersZ extends upwardly from the legportions ofthebifuro'ated rpart straddling a api-117238extendingtransversely of a tubular cap 'i member.' 209 rsli'dablyl mounted upon the fupper'end'of"the'sleeve"203. `.This cap member is provided Witha screw 2I0having its inner end positionedinfaslotlIILformed in the sleeve 2&3. VI'Ihe'zcapiimemberisformed with projections 2 I2 in thenformfofinger"engaging members to conveniently.eiectrmanualrotation of the against'the.spring-S2I6,Sit can beturned to the vextent permitted-.bylfthe-fslot 2 I I, 'as will be apparent.

' the pinsIIZSfaregroupedn rectangular formation Iabout?thesteln's'ZiiI. One vof the pads 2te, as the pad at the left,'Fg`ures'"9and`12, is formed with four circurni'erentially` spaced radially extending projeotions22. "The other pad is of substantially*semiecircularformation having one yradially extendingfprojection 22|. v'When the VYleft `.pad ispositionedfas shown in Figure 12, the

projections 22|) are engagedby the pins |26 upon Vdownward movement `fo'ifithe plate`I|| `and accordingly, if anyof 'those'pins 'havebeen pushed downwardly by thearms' I8 I ,they will be pushed upwardly, or reset, permitting theV latch members |20 "to enter the 'notches in the rods IBS when the notches become"alined with the latches. When the'pa`d200; infthefrghtend of the column 'is positioned as shown in `Figure 1 2, it likewise "will be engaged "by gall 'four'of 4the pins |213 in that group.

All'fourof thedispensingmechanisms on each side of the column "42 deliver alike or uniform quantity of liquid such, for example, as halfpint. 'When 'quart containers `are 'being filled,

'alli'four dispensing:uitsF-operateeach depositing a'half pint lo'f"lio11.1id=inthe container at each 'filling station. "Vi/'hen piritcontainers are being 4illed,'the first twofdispensing units on'each side of the machine at-the'let',"Figures l and 1l, are rendered inoperable. "These units 'are also ren- Vdereo'l"inoperable automaticall-yiupon elevation oi the guide rails 32'from the position-accommodating the quart cartons to the position accommodating the pint and half-pint cartons. 4However, by manipulating lthemember 209, associated with the dispensing units at the left in Figures l and 9 to 12 of the drawings, these four units are rendered inoperable. This operation consists of rotating the member 209 approximately 45 and accordingly, rotating the stem 20| and the pad 200 likewise. Thismoves the projections 220 of the pad out ofy registration with that group of pins. Accordingly, when they have been moved downwardly in the plate they will remain in that position and that group of push rods I 08, |35, will not be actuated. This operation does not affect the next four units or those at the right, Figures l, 9 and 12, these units functioning to ll pint containers.

When it is desired to ll half-pint containers, thereby necessitating the operation of only one dispensing unit on each side of the machine, the

stem 20| at the right end of the column, Figures f 9-12, is rotated, moving the projection 22| and the portion 222 of that pad out of registration with the rst pair of pins |26, thereby rendering the third dispensing unit on each side of the machine inoperable.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be observed that the first two shafts at the left, |62 and |63 have only the enlarged portions |59 in proximity to the lower ends of the shafts, while the shafts |64 have the enlarged portions |59`and |60, and the last shafts |65 have the three enlarged portions |59, |60 and |6|. In this connection, it will be observed that there is a shaft '|33 positioned intermediate the shafts |63 and |64. This shaft 130 constitutes part of a carton detecting mechanism operable in conjunction with a portion of the complete machine for applying top closures to the filled containers. It forms no part and has no connection with the filling apparatusherein described. The carton detecting members |50| 53 are mounted upon the guide rails 32, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Accordingly, when the guide rails are elevated to a selected position, the .detecting arms also are elevated. Accordingly, when the guide rails are elevated from the quart position upwardly to the pint position, the tail or latch portions |55, |56, of the arms |50, |5|, do not have any enlarged notched portion to engage on the shafts |62, |63, and it will be apparent, from the structure previously described, that if these shafts are not restrained against retrograde rotation, the corresponding arms |8| will be moved inwardlyover the pins and accordingly, those two dispensing units will be rendered inoperable. However, the shaftsV |64 and |65, associated with the last two dispensing units, are provided with the upwardly spaced enlarged notch portions |60 and thereforefthey will be controlled by the container detector arms |52, |53 and their latch portions |51, |58. When the guide rails are elevated still farther for say half-pint cartons, the third unit will be rendered inoperable because only the last shaft '|65 has the third enlarged notch portion |6I. Accordingly, if the operator elevates the guide rails for cartons of smaller capacity, the lling apparatus is automatically adjusted to dispense the right amount of liquid into the cartons. The purpose of having the manually controlled means, including the stems 20| and the pads 200, is to avoid the necessity of reciprocating the pins |26 up and down in the plate -iI vQlienrlo-n'g runs 'the outer ends of the bores 226, see Figure 26.

The inner ends of the poppets are of reduced dimension and enter keyways 229 in rods 08 and |35, see Figures 9, 14 and 15.

The carton detector arms |-I53 are oscillated about their pivots |54 in timed relation to the rest of the mechanism ofthe apparatus by actuating means located in the cam housing 22 at a place somewhat remote from the filling apparatus. As previously stated herein, the cam housing and base 20 are of appreciable length and mechanisms in addition to the filling apparatus are mounted thereon as, for example, amechanism for applying and sealing end closures to the cartons after they have been filled.

The guide rails 32` include, or are mounted upon, a channel structure 235 supported by the structures 31, two of which are shown in Figure 3. The carton detector arms are each journalled in a block 236. These blocks are secured in the channel formation 235, as by screws 231. Each arm has a forwardly extending arm 238 arranged on the underside of the pivoted portion ofthe arms |50|53 and each of the arms 238 have a roller 239 engaging a cam member 240 secured to a push rod 24|. The push rods 24| extend lengthwise of the channel formations 235 and are slidably mounted in bearing blocks 242. The assembly including the 4arms |50| 53, the latch arms |55-|58, and the arms 238 are urged in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivots |54 by helical compression springs 243 acting against the arms'238, see Figure 2l. When the rods 24| are moved to the right, Figures 20-22, 'the cam vblocks 240 engage the rollers 239 and thus prevent movement of the arms |50|53 inwardly over the guide rails 32. When the rods 24| are moved to the right, Figure 21, the cam blocks 240 permit such movement of thearm assemblies by the springs 243.

The push rods 24| are reciprocated .by mech- Y anism shown in Figures-17ste 20 and-22. Av cylindrical cam 250 is mounted .upon the main cam shaft 24 and is formed on its periphery Withqa cam groove in which is located a roller 25| carried by a slide 252 mounted for reciprocation Vin a pad 254 secured in the upper wall of the base 20. The slide is formed with-a transversely extending slot 255 to receive rollers 256 -mrounted on the inner ends of arms 251, these arms being pivotally mounted intermediate theil` ends 0n studs 258 carried by brackets 259 secured in the cam housing 22. The opposite ends of the arms 251 are formed with geargquadrants 260 arranged in mesh with `pinions 26| secured on the lower ends of the shafts 262, as by nuts 263. The shafts 262 are journa-lled-vertically in the cam housing 22, and the upwardly extendingv portions 264 of the shafts are of square formation. A block 266 is mounted in each channel formation 235, as by screws 261. Thereis one of these blocks 266 directly above each `of the shafts 262, and a stub shaft 268 is journalled in each of the blocks 266 inaxialregistration with 

